How to Record to VHS Tape From a Camcorder With a Hard Disk Drive

If the memory on your camcorder's hard disk drive is filling up, you may want to consider transferring some of the video to a VHS tape. Recording on to a tape from your camcorder allows you to archive your videos and free up space on your camcorder’s memory. Follow these steps to learn how to record on to a tape with a camcorder.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• AV cable
• Blank VHS tape
• VCR
• Camcorder
• Television

1. Locate the "AV out" on the back of your camera (the yellow, red and white sockets).

2. Locate the "AV in" on your VCR. The sockets will be on the back of the machine and will have the same color scheme.

3. Use an AV cable to connect the two together. Plug the yellow cable ends into the yellow "AV out" on your camcorder and the yellow "AV in" on your VCR. Follow the same procedure with the red and white cables.

4. Load a blank VHS tape into your VCR, sliding in the tape with the pivoting flap forward and facing up.

5. Turn the VCR on and to the appropriate "line in" channel. You can determine which line you are plugged into by looking for the marking on the back of the VCR.

6. Turn on the camcorder and look for the image to show up on the television monitor. (If it does not show up, you are probably on the wrong "line in" channel. Change the "line in" channel using your VCR's remote control until you see the camcorder image on the TV monitor.)

7. Queue up the camcorder. You may need to rewind or fast forward to reach your desired starting point.

8. Press record on the VCR.

9. Press play on the camcorder, and wait until the segment you are recording is done.

10. Press stop on both the VCR and camcorder.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you hook up the cables appropriately: camcorder out, VCR in.
• Disconnect the camcorder after use.
• If you don't see an image on the TV when the camcorder is properly connected, look for a "line in" or "input" button on your VCR's remote control and try pressing it.